China Aims to Solve Poor Problem
In a four-day meeting ending Wednesday, Chinese President Hu Jintao met with the Communist Party's Central Committee to tackle the issue of China's widening wealth gap.  Believe it or not, this week's conference was the first meeting in 25 years to deal with social issues.  China's focus over the last decades has been exclusively political and economic-- how to elevate China from its "developing country" status and how to achieve the greatest export economy the world has ever seen.  And to China's credit, recent years have been monumentally successful both economically and politically.  However, the speed with which the Chinese economy has grown, salaries have increased, and prices have risen has left China's poor class out in the cold.  Yesterday's pensions do not match today's cost of living.  Poor salaries have forced experienced Chinese teachers to look elsewhere for work.  The unprecedented growth in production has created an environmental crisis.  The Hu Doctrine, as it is called, talks about a "harmonious society."  Ostensibly, this signifies a move to close the gap in wealth and to nourish the lower class.  Critics believe, however, this "harmony" is Hu's way of discouraging political dissention and consolidating his power.  One can only hope Hu is sincere in his desire to solve these worsening social problems.

•NYT: Commitment to Social Harmony
•China Daily: Plan Unveiled